Is there a SAFE and cheap alternative to hardwire cloth? - Page 2

chickenbutt I am in northern Florida and I use 2 x 4 inch welded wire on my runs. I get it at Homedepot for like 76.00 for a 6' x 50' They have shorter rolls that are longer. I use that and then put a 2 foot high length of chicken wire on the inside of the run. This keeps anything from reaching in and since its on the inside they can't stretch it out to get in. We live adjecent to the wildlife management area and have coons,opossiums,weasels and much more nothing gets into the run.(it is also dug down 2 feet) Its juch cheaper than hardware cloth and just as effective. Micki

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Hardware cloth was my most expensive part of my coop too......I don't know how prices are in your area, but I wanted 3' X 1/4" X 150' rolls. Locally they started at 89.99. I ordered online at acehardwareoutlet.com and they were 57.00 + 9.99 to ship to the West coast. (they are on the East coast). I could not believe I could order wire and have it shipped cheaper than I could buy it here. So, you may want to check them out. I did think it strange, their 1/2" was actually more than the 1/4", so check all the prices on things you could use.

if you get weasels , rats , raccoons they can reach in a 1" hole and rip off heads... so get 1/2" hardware cloth.. we got 48" tall and buried 12" into the ground for things that dig. and 3' on the wall of coop.. the higher up parts and the roof (7') we used chicken wire...

old as dirt, without the chicken poo.. have 2 kids, 3 grandbabies, cat, dog, parrot and 28 chickens and roos. married 38 yrs

Yes, there are a number of different names for hardware cloth--I don't recall them all, but you could say welded wire with very small openings to describe what you are lookig for. Personally I prefer the 1/2 X 1 welded wire to the actual hardware cloth--usually heavier gauge and costs about the same or less.

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I just noticed you're in Central Florida. I don't know whether you're anywhere near Jacksonville, but I order my wire shipped from this company in Jacksonville. Even with shipping, it turns out cheaper than making do with what's available to me locally.

I have the heavier gauge wire and also chain link for my enclosure, but I use the 1/4" hardware cloth 3' high attached to that all around to keep paws from getting in. I feel safer with the1/4" over the existing fencing, but that's just me!

My main fencing is chicken wire. I have electric wire going around the outside of my coop, run and my bird's yard for predator control. I never shut my pop doors.
Once a neighborhood mutt dug under my fence and killed one of my hens during the day when my DH and I were gone which is rare. I put some bait out to try and catch it. It did come back. I had put some leg traps in the original place but it dug under in another place. I must have scared it off because it didn't get any of the birds on the second attempt. Since then I put up the electric wire around the outside of my fence. I had a possum try to dig under once but got zapped and let out a good scream and it was good night possum. I know some other critters have been in contact with the wire as I was sitting outside on my picnic table one night and a critter let out a scream so I figured it must have found the wire and got zapped too. I have forgotten to turn the fence off when I have went into the birds yard and have gotten zapped. I sure felt it and I can just imagine a critter who weighs far less than I do must really get a good charge.
My fence is 4ft high but I have a line up about a foot higher.